Psychologist Manana Gotsiridze worked in three directions in June:
- She met 5 beneficiaries of a day rehabilitation center who are learning how to work with polymer clay. She did some work with them to get rid of negative emotions, to reassess priorities and increase self-esteem.
She had daily interaction with the women in the rehabilitation center. Intensive work was carried out with traumas using various methods: art therapy, elements of cognitive-correctional psychology, psychological exercises and associative cards.
- 12 individual psychotherapy sessions were held online and 15 sessions with women living in Kutaisi. Three of them were new, and with the others, the previously started work continued.
35-year-old Khatuna passed psycho-rehabilitation for more than 6 months. After the death of her husband, she did not want to live, even her daughter irritated her, nothing pleased her, she did not believe that after the sessions of the psychologist there would be any positive changes. But working with different methods gave results: fear and irritation gradually disappeared, new priorities, new goals appeared. She thanks the psychologist for her humanity and professionalism, patience and invaluable assistance.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Women Support Center mobilizers took part in the training: "Evidence Based Advocacy", held in 10 target municipalities.
The training was aimed at strengthening the skills necessary for advocacy. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying and ranking the problems. The essence, stages and forms of evidence-based advocacy were discussed in detail.
Using practical examples, the participants discussed the factors hindering the advocacy process, identified target groups and stakeholders.
It was noted that participation in the training is important for representatives of the Women Support Centers, as they are actively involved in the process of forming municipal policy and advocating for local problems.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Gender, gender-based violence, identification of violence, communication with a child and referral stages, legal mechanisms and the role of teachers in the prevention of violence, international documents - these issues were discussed at the training for teachers held in Kutaisi. The participants represented 5 municipalities: Senaki, Tsalenjikha, Terjola, Samtredia, Kobuleti.
At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.
- Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
- Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
- Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)
Participants were actively involved in the training process, in discussions, sharing their experience with each other. According to them, the training will contribute to the destruction of gender stereotypes and the prevention of violence - the mechanisms of early identification and intervention.
It was noted that after the training they will introduce gender approaches in schools and will actively participate in the process of identifying cases of violence.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The groups were updated with new members and are already staffed with women who are ready for active work. They got acquainted with the municipal programs for social protection and health care. During the meetings, they talked about existing services and they used. All groups have identified issues that they will start advocating.
There are already first results: one woman was assisted with medicines, another - in resolving the housing issue.
Each result is a motivation to the next success.
Project Assistant Nino Chabukiani met with women self-assistance groups established in Vani and Senaki, also in Chokhatauri, Terjola, Kobuleti and Samtredia municipalities. Meetings were held by group leaders, representatives of our organization.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
“It is very important that the information on women's rights disseminated by the Fund “Sukhumi” reaches every village, because women in the periphery need information on such issues most”.
“Strengthening of women's rights must start with information. When I know the information, I can better protect my rights”.
“The more strong women we have, the fewer conflicts and cases of domestic violence will be".
- These opinions were recorded at informational meetings held with women. Participants emphasize that one of the important mechanisms for empowering women is to equip them with the necessary information.
The meetings were held in the Women Support Centers of Senaki, Chokhatauri, Vani, Terjola and Khobi.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The cycle of information meetings in Bagdati municipality continues. The ordinary meeting was organized by the advocacy group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the Interdepartmental Commission of Bagdati City hall for the prevention of violence against women and / or domestic violence, protection of victims of violence and their assistance. The meeting was held in the village Persati. The meeting was attended by heads and teachers of kindergartens of the villages Zegani, Sakraula and Persati, the head of the association of kindergartens and representatives of the administration.
The coordinator of the children's rights department presented information about the services they provide to vulnerable families. The participants were also provided with detailed information about the work and services of the Fund "Sukhumi". As a problem, the participants named the fact that the victim does not have a guarantee of security, and the work in terms of prevention is weak.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
During the lesson, the hours fly by so fast that we don't even feel it.
Imagination takes us to a completely different world.
Our fingers get used to colored clay and we teach them to read our thoughts.
The teacher tells us that the clay must love us...
These are the words of the women beneficiaries of the Day Rehabilitation Center, who are learning to work with polymer clay with great interest together with the teacher Maka Jishkariani. During the lessons, they talk not only about color mixing, work-related details, but also about art therapy, which helps to overcome problems.
Each lesson is interesting, it is especially pleasant to communicate with each other and the fact that they learn a lot, make new products - each of them has already accumulated a lot of work.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The initiative of the monitoring group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" was also accepted by Vani municipality. In order to respond to the issues of violence, an Interdepartmental Commission on the Prevention of Violence against Women and / or Domestic Violence, Protection and Assistance to Victims of Violence was created in the City Hall, which will be headed by Vice Mayor Vladimir Kheladze. The commission consists of 13 people and includes representatives of the relevant services of the City Hall, the educational resource center, the association of kindergartens, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, NGOs and a social agency.
The Commission will cooperate with the Gender Equality Council of Vani Municipality. It will periodically provide information and recommendations on the current situation in the municipality, measures to prevent violence against women and / or domestic violence, protection and assistance to victims of violence, which will contribute to active work on the problem.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Brot für die Welt is an authoritative organization that, as a reliable partner and donor, has identified and successfully improved many areas in the activities of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”. The areas are following: violence prevention, monitoring and advocacy, youth empowerment centers, forum theater / shadow theater / puppet theater, rehabilitation centers, support for Ukrainian refugees.
Representatives of Brot für die Welt Kim Kvibuka and Lilian Kurtz listened to the current report, which was presented by the team of Kutaisi head office and Tbilisi representative office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” in the form of interesting presentations.
“Thank you for showing us the diversity of your work. It is very impressive what you do and what you strive for. I'm sure you'll have great results!" - said Kim Kwibuka at the end of the meeting.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
